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Othello: Act III, Scene 3

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Othello
Act III, Scene 3

Cyprus. The garden of the castle.

I am glad I have found this napkin; This was her first remembrance from the Moor.

L. Marchetti, 1900

  1. Enter Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia.

Desdemona

1 - 2
  1. Be thou assur’d, good Cassio, I will do
  2. All my abilities in thy behalf.

Emilia

3 - 4
  1. Good madam, do. I warrant it grieves my husband
  2. As if the cause were his.

Desdemona

5 - 7
  1. O, that’s an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,
  2. But I will have my lord and you again
  3. As friendly as you were.

Cassio

8 - 10
  1.                          Bounteous madam,
  2. What ever shall become of Michael Cassio,
  3. He’s never any thing but your true servant.

Desdemona

11 - 14
  1. I know’t; I thank you. You do love my lord;
  2. You have known him long, and be you well assur’d
  3. He shall in strangeness stand no farther off
  4. Than in a politic distance.

Cassio

15 - 20
  1.                             Ay, but, lady,
  2. That policy may either last so long,
  3. Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet,
  4. Or breed itself so out of circumstances,
  5. That I being absent and my place supplied,
  6. My general will forget my love and service.

Desdemona

21 - 30
  1. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here,
  2. I give thee warrant of thy place. Assure thee,
  3. If I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it
  4. To the last article. My lord shall never rest,
  5. I’ll watch him tame, and talk him out of patience;
  6. His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift,
  7. I’ll intermingle every thing he does
  8. With Cassio’s suit. Therefore be merry, Cassio,
  9. For thy solicitor shall rather die
  10. Than give thy cause away.
  1. Enter Othello and Iago.

Emilia

31
  1. Madam, here comes my lord.

Cassio

32
  1. Madam, I’ll take my leave.

Desdemona

33
  1. Why, stay, and hear me speak.

Cassio

34 - 35
  1. Madam, not now; I am very ill at ease,
  2. Unfit for mine own purposes.

Desdemona

36
  1. Well, do your discretion.
  1. Exit Cassio.

Iago

37
  1. Hah? I like not that.

Othello

38
  1.                       What dost thou say?

Iago

39
  1. Nothing, my lord; or if—I know not what.

Othello

40
  1. Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?

Iago

41 - 43
  1. Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it,
  2. That he would steal away so guilty-like,
  3. Seeing your coming.

Othello

44
  1.                     I do believe ’twas he.

Desdemona

45 - 47
  1. How now, my lord?
  2. I have been talking with a suitor here,
  3. A man that languishes in your displeasure.

Othello

48
  1. Who is’t you mean?

Desdemona

49 - 55
  1. Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
  2. If I have any grace or power to move you,
  3. His present reconciliation take;
  4. For if he be not one that truly loves you,
  5. That errs in ignorance and not in cunning,
  6. I have no judgment in an honest face.
  7. I prithee call him back.

Othello

56
  1.                          Went he hence now?

Desdemona

57 - 59
  1. Yes, faith; so humbled
  2. That he hath left part of his grief with me
  3. To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.

Othello

60
  1. Not now, sweet Desdemon, some other time.

Desdemona

61
  1. But shall’t be shortly?

Othello

62
  1.                         The sooner, sweet, for you.

Desdemona

63
  1. Shall’t be tonight at supper?

Othello

64
  1.                               No, not tonight.

Desdemona

65
  1. Tomorrow dinner then?

Othello

66 - 67
  1.                       I shall not dine at home;
  2. I meet the captains at the citadel.

Desdemona

68 - 82
  1. Why then tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn;
  2. On Tuesday noon, or night; on We’n’sday morn.
  3. I prithee name the time, but let it not
  4. Exceed three days. In faith, he’s penitent;
  5. And yet his trespass, in our common reason
  6. (Save that they say the wars must make example
  7. Out of her best), is not almost a fault
  8. T’ incur a private check. When shall he come?
  9. Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul
  10. What you would ask me that I should deny,
  11. Or stand so mamm’ring on. What? Michael Cassio,
  12. That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time,
  13. When I have spoke of you dispraisingly,
  14. Hath ta’en your part—to have so much to do
  15. To bring him in! By’r lady, I could do much—
Fanny Bernard-Beere as Desdemona

Fanny Bernard-Beere as Desdemona

London Stereoscopic, circa 1880

Othello

83 - 84
  1. Prithee no more; let him come when he will;
  2. I will deny thee nothing.

Desdemona

85 - 92
  1.                           Why, this is not a boon;
  2. ’Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,
  3. Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,
  4. Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit
  5. To your own person. Nay, when I have a suit
  6. Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,
  7. It shall be full of poise and difficult weight,
  8. And fearful to be granted.

Othello

93 - 95
  1.                            I will deny thee nothing;
  2. Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,
  3. To leave me but a little to myself.

Desdemona

96
  1. Shall I deny you? No. Farewell, my lord.

Othello

97
  1. Farewell, my Desdemona, I’ll come to thee straight.

Desdemona

98 - 99
  1. Emilia, come.—Be as your fancies teach you;
  2. What e’er you be, I am obedient.
  1. Exit with Emilia.

Othello

100 - 102
  1. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul
  2. But I do love thee! And when I love thee not,
  3. Chaos is come again.

Iago

103
  1. My noble lord—

Othello

104
  1.                What dost thou say, Iago?

Iago

105 - 106
  1. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo’d my lady,
  2. Know of your love?

Othello

107
  1. He did, from first to last. Why dost thou ask?

Iago

108 - 109
  1. But for a satisfaction of my thought,
  2. No further harm.

Othello

110
  1.                  Why of thy thought, Iago?

Iago

111
  1. I did not think he had been acquainted with her.

Othello

112
  1. O yes, and went between us very oft.

Iago

113
  1. Indeed!

Othello

114 - 115
  1. Indeed? Ay, indeed. Discern’st thou aught in that?
  2. Is he not honest?

Iago

116
  1.                   Honest, my lord?

Othello

117
  1. Honest? Ay, honest.

Iago

118
  1.                     My lord, for aught I know.

Othello

119
  1. What dost thou think?

Iago

120
  1.                       Think, my lord?

Othello

121 - 131
  1. Think, my lord? By heaven, thou echo’st me,
  2. As if there were some monster in thy thought
  3. Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something.
  4. I heard thee say even now, thou lik’st not that,
  5. When Cassio left my wife. What didst not like?
  6. And when I told thee he was of my counsel
  7. In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst, “Indeed!”
  8. And didst contract and purse thy brow together,
  9. As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain
  10. Some horrible conceit. If thou dost love me,
  11. Show me thy thought.

Iago

132
  1. My lord, you know I love you.

Othello

133 - 140
  1.                               I think thou dost;
  2. And for I know thou’rt full of love and honesty,
  3. And weigh’st thy words before thou giv’st them breath,
  4. Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more;
  5. For such things in a false disloyal knave
  6. Are tricks of custom; but in a man that’s just
  7. They’re close dilations, working from the heart,
  8. That passion cannot rule.
Edmund Kean as Othello

Edmund Kean as Othello

W. Sheldrick, E. F. Lambert, circa 1825

Iago

141 - 142
  1.                           For Michael Cassio,
  2. I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.

Othello

143
  1. I think so too.

Iago

144 - 145
  1.                 Men should be what they seem,
  2. Or those that be not, would they might seem none!

Othello

146
  1. Certain, men should be what they seem.

Iago

147
  1. Why then I think Cassio’s an honest man.

Othello

148 - 151
  1. Nay, yet there’s more in this.
  2. I prithee speak to me as to thy thinkings,
  3. As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
  4. The worst of words.

Iago

152 - 160
  1.                     Good my lord, pardon me:
  2. Though I am bound to every act of duty,
  3. I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.
  4. Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vild and false,
  5. As where’s that palace whereinto foul things
  6. Sometimes intrude not? Who has that breast so pure
  7. But some uncleanly apprehensions
  8. Keep leets and law-days and in sessions sit
  9. With meditations lawful?

Othello

161 - 163
  1. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,
  2. If thou but think’st him wrong’d, and mak’st his ear
  3. A stranger to thy thoughts.

Iago

164 - 174
  1.                             I do beseech you,
  2. Though I perchance am vicious in my guess
  3. (As I confess it is my nature’s plague
  4. To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy
  5. Shapes faults that are not), that your wisdom then,
  6. From one that so imperfectly conjects,
  7. Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble
  8. Out of his scattering and unsure observance.
  9. It were not for your quiet nor your good,
  10. Nor for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom,
  11. To let you know my thoughts.

Othello

175
  1. ’Zounds, what dost thou mean?

Iago

176 - 182
  1. Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
  2. Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
  3. Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing;
  4. ’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
  5. But he that filches from me my good name
  6. Robs me of that which not enriches him,
  7. And makes me poor indeed.

Othello

183
  1. By heaven, I’ll know thy thoughts.

Iago

184 - 185
  1. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand,
  2. Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody.

Othello

186
  1. Ha?

Iago

187 - 192
  1.     O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!
  2. It is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock
  3. The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss
  4. Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
  5. But O, what damned minutes tells he o’er
  6. Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves!

Othello

193
  1. O misery!

Iago

194 - 198
  1. Poor and content is rich, and rich enough,
  2. But riches fineless is as poor as winter
  3. To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
  4. Good God, the souls of all my tribe defend
  5. From jealousy!

Othello

199 - 215
  1.                Why? Why is this?
  2. Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy?
  3. To follow still the changes of the moon
  4. With fresh suspicions? No! To be once in doubt
  5. Is once to be resolv’d. Exchange me for a goat,
  6. When I shall turn the business of my soul
  7. To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
  8. Matching thy inference. ’Tis not to make me jealous
  9. To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
  10. Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well;
  11. Where virtue is, these are more virtuous.
  12. Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
  13. The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt,
  14. For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago,
  15. I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
  16. And on the proof, there is no more but this—
  17. Away at once with love or jealousy!

O, is that all? What will you give me now for that same handkerchief?

L. Marchetti, circa 1900

Iago

216 - 227
  1. I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason
  2. To show the love and duty that I bear you
  3. With franker spirit; therefore (as I am bound)
  4. Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.
  5. Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio,
  6. Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure.
  7. I would not have your free and noble nature,
  8. Out of self-bounty, be abus’d; look to’t.
  9. I know our country disposition well:
  10. In Venice they do let God see the pranks
  11. They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience
  12. Is not to leave’t undone, but keep’t unknown.

Othello

228
  1. Dost thou say so?

Iago

229 - 231
  1. She did deceive her father, marrying you,
  2. And when she seem’d to shake and fear your looks,
  3. She lov’d them most.

Othello

232
  1.                      And so she did.

Iago

233 - 238
  1.                 Why, go to then.
  2. She that so young could give out such a seeming
  3. To seel her father’s eyes up, close as oak,
  4. He thought ’twas witchcraft—but I am much to blame;
  5. I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
  6. For too much loving you.

Othello

239
  1.                          I am bound to thee forever.

Iago

240
  1. I see this hath a little dash’d your spirits.

Othello

241
  1. Not a jot, not a jot.

Iago

242 - 247
  1.                       I’ faith, I fear it has.
  2. I hope you will consider what is spoke
  3. Comes from my love. But I do see y’ are mov’d.
  4. I am to pray you not to strain my speech
  5. To grosser issues nor to larger reach
  6. Than to suspicion.

Othello

248
  1. I will not.

Iago

249 - 252
  1.             Should you do so, my lord,
  2. My speech should fall into such vild success
  3. Which my thoughts aim’d not. Cassio’s my worthy friend—
  4. My lord, I see y’ are mov’d.

Othello

253 - 254
  1.                              No, not much mov’d:
  2. I do not think but Desdemona’s honest.

Iago

255
  1. Long live she so! And long live you to think so!

Othello

256
  1. And yet how nature erring from itself—

Iago

257 - 267
  1. Ay, there’s the point; as (to be bold with you)
  2. Not to affect many proposed matches
  3. Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
  4. Whereto we see in all things nature tends—
  5. Foh, one may smell in such, a will most rank,
  6. Foul disproportions, thoughts unnatural.
  7. But (pardon me) I do not in position
  8. Distinctly speak of her, though I may fear
  9. Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
  10. May fall to match you with her country forms,
  11. And happily repent.

Othello

268 - 270
  1.                     Farewell, farewell!
  2. If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;
  3. Set on thy wife to observe. Leave me, Iago.

Iago

271
  1. Going.
  2. My lord, I take my leave.

Othello

272 - 273
  1. Why did I marry? This honest creature, doubtless,
  2. Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

Iago

274 - 285
  1. Returning.
  2. My lord, I would I might entreat your honor
  3. To scan this thing no farther; leave it to time.
  4. Although ’tis fit that Cassio have his place—
  5. For sure he fills it up with great ability—
  6. Yet if you please to hold him off awhile,
  7. You shall by that perceive him and his means.
  8. Note if your lady strain his entertainment
  9. With any strong or vehement importunity;
  10. Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,
  11. Let me be thought too busy in my fears
  12. (As worthy cause I have to fear I am)
  13. And hold her free, I do beseech your honor.
Tommaso Salvini as Othello

Tommaso Salvini as Othello

New York Times, circa 1916

Othello

286
  1. Fear not my government.

Iago

287
  1. I once more take my leave.
  1. Exit.

Othello

288 - 309
  1. This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,
  2. And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,
  3. Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,
  4. Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings,
  5. I’ld whistle her off, and let her down the wind
  6. To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black,
  7. And have not those soft parts of conversation
  8. That chamberers have, or for I am declin’d
  9. Into the vale of years (yet that’s not much),
  10. She’s gone. I am abus’d, and my relief
  11. Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage!
  12. That we can call these delicate creatures ours,
  13. And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad
  14. And live upon the vapor of a dungeon
  15. Than keep a corner in the thing I love
  16. For others’ uses. Yet ’tis the plague of great ones,
  17. Prerogativ’d are they less than the base;
  18. ’Tis destiny unshunnable, like death.
  19. Even then this forked plague is fated to us
  20. When we do quicken. Look where she comes:
  21. Enter Desdemona and Emilia.
  22. If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself!
  23. I’ll not believe’t.

Desdemona

310 - 312
  1.                     How now, my dear Othello?
  2. Your dinner, and the generous islanders
  3. By you invited, do attend your presence.

Othello

313
  1. I am to blame.

Desdemona

314 - 315
  1.                Why do you speak so faintly?
  2. Are you not well?

Othello

316
  1. I have a pain upon my forehead, here.

Desdemona

317 - 319
  1. Faith, that’s with watching, ’twill away again.
  2. Let me but bind it hard, within this hour
  3. It will be well.

Othello

320 - 321
  1.                  Your napkin is too little;
  2. He puts the handkerchief from him, and it drops.
  3. Let it alone. Come, I’ll go in with you.

Desdemona

322
  1. I am very sorry that you are not well.
  1. Exit with Othello.

Emilia

323 - 332
  1. I am glad I have found this napkin;
  2. This was her first remembrance from the Moor.
  3. My wayward husband hath a hundred times
  4. Woo’d me to steal it; but she so loves the token
  5. (For he conjur’d her she should ever keep it)
  6. That she reserves it evermore about her
  7. To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta’en out,
  8. And give’t Iago. What he will do with it
  9. Heaven knows, not I;
  10. I nothing but to please his fantasy.
  1. Enter Iago.

Iago

333
  1. How now? What do you here alone?

Emilia

334
  1. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.

Iago

335
  1. You have a thing for me? It is a common thing—

Emilia

336
  1. Hah?

Iago

337
  1. To have a foolish wife.

Emilia

338 - 339
  1. O, is that all? What will you give me now
  2. For that same handkerchief?

Iago

340
  1.                             What handkerchief?

Emilia

341 - 343
  1. What handkerchief?
  2. Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona,
  3. That which so often you did bid me steal.
Kirovabad Theater production of Othello

Kirovabad Theater production of Othello

Dimitri Tavadze, 1972

Iago

344
  1. Hast stol’n it from her?

Emilia

345 - 347
  1. No, faith; she let it drop by negligence,
  2. And to th’ advantage, I, being here, took’t up.
  3. Look, here ’tis.

Iago

348
  1.                  A good wench, give it me.

Emilia

349 - 350
  1. What will you do with’t, that you have been so earnest
  2. To have me filch it?

Iago

351
  1. Snatching it.
  2.                      Why, what is that to you?

Emilia

352 - 354
  1. If it be not for some purpose of import,
  2. Give’t me again. Poor lady, she’ll run mad
  3. When she shall lack it.

Iago

355 - 370
  1. Be not acknown on’t; I have use for it.
  2. Go, leave me.
  3. Exit Emilia.
  4. I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin,
  5. And let him find it. Trifles light as air
  6. Are to the jealous confirmations strong
  7. As proofs of holy writ; this may do something.
  8. The Moor already changes with my poison:
  9. Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons,
  10. Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,
  11. But with a little act upon the blood
  12. Burn like the mines of sulphur.
  13. Enter Othello.
  14.                                 I did say so.
  15. Look where he comes! Not poppy, nor mandragora,
  16. Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world
  17. Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
  18. Which thou ow’dst yesterday.

Othello

371
  1.                              Ha, ha, false to me?

Iago

372
  1. Why, how now, general? No more of that.

Othello

373 - 375
  1. Avaunt, be gone! Thou hast set me on the rack.
  2. I swear ’tis better to be much abus’d
  3. Than but to know’t a little.

Iago

376
  1.                              How now, my lord?

Othello

377 - 382
  1. What sense had I in her stol’n hours of lust?
  2. I saw’t not, thought it not; it harm’d not me.
  3. I slept the next night well, fed well, was free and merry;
  4. I found not Cassio’s kisses on her lips.
  5. He that is robb’d, not wanting what is stol’n,
  6. Let him not know’t, and he’s not robb’d at all.

Iago

383
  1. I am sorry to hear this.

Othello

384 - 396
  1. I had been happy, if the general camp,
  2. Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body,
  3. So I had nothing known. O now, forever
  4. Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content!
  5. Farewell the plumed troops and the big wars
  6. That makes ambition virtue! O, farewell!
  7. Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump,
  8. The spirit-stirring drum, th’ ear-piercing fife,
  9. The royal banner, and all quality,
  10. Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!
  11. And O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
  12. Th’ immortal Jove’s dread clamors counterfeit,
  13. Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone.

Iago

397
  1. Is’t possible, my lord?

Othello

398 - 402
  1. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore;
  2. Taking him by the throat.
  3. Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof,
  4. Or by the worth of mine eternal soul,
  5. Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
  6. Than answer my wak’d wrath!

Iago

403
  1.                             Is’t come to this?

Othello

404 - 406
  1. Make me to see’t; or (at the least) so prove it
  2. That the probation bear no hinge nor loop
  3. To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life!

Iago

407
  1. My noble lord—

Othello

408 - 413
  1. If thou dost slander her and torture me,
  2. Never pray more; abandon all remorse;
  3. On horror’s head horrors accumulate;
  4. Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amaz’d;
  5. For nothing canst thou to damnation add
  6. Greater than that.

Byam Shaw, 1901

Iago

414 - 421
  1.                    O grace! O heaven forgive me!
  2. Are you a man? Have you a soul? Or sense?
  3. God buy you; take mine office. O wretched fool,
  4. That lov’st to make thine honesty a vice!
  5. O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,
  6. To be direct and honest is not safe.
  7. I thank you for this profit, and from hence
  8. I’ll love no friend, sith love breeds such offense.

Othello

422
  1. Nay, stay. Thou shouldst be honest.

Iago

423 - 424
  1. I should be wise—for honesty’s a fool
  2. And loses that it works for.

Othello

425 - 432
  1.                              By the world,
  2. I think my wife be honest, and think she is not;
  3. I think that thou art just, and think thou art not.
  4. I’ll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh
  5. As Dian’s visage, is now begrim’d and black
  6. As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives,
  7. Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,
  8. I’ll not endure it. Would I were satisfied!

Iago

433 - 435
  1. I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion;
  2. I do repent me that I put it to you.
  3. You would be satisfied?

Othello

436
  1.                         Would? Nay, and I will.

Iago

437 - 439
  1. And may; but how? How satisfied, my lord?
  2. Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?
  3. Behold her topp’d?

Othello

440
  1.                    Death and damnation! O!

Iago

441 - 452
  1. It were a tedious difficulty, I think,
  2. To bring them to that prospect; damn them then,
  3. If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster
  4. More than their own. What then? How then?
  5. What shall I say? Where’s satisfaction?
  6. It is impossible you should see this,
  7. Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
  8. As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross
  9. As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,
  10. If imputation and strong circumstances
  11. Which lead directly to the door of truth
  12. Will give you satisfaction, you might have’t.

Othello

453
  1. Give me a living reason she’s disloyal.

Iago

454 - 470
  1. I do not like the office;
  2. But sith I am ent’red in this cause so far
  3. (Prick’d to’t by foolish honesty and love),
  4. I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately,
  5. And being troubled with a raging tooth,
  6. I could not sleep.
  7. There are a kind of men, so loose of soul,
  8. That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs;
  9. One of this kind is Cassio.
  10. In sleep I heard him say, “Sweet Desdemona,
  11. Let us be wary, let us hide our loves”;
  12. And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand;
  13. Cry, “O sweet creature!” then kiss me hard,
  14. As if he pluck’d up kisses by the roots
  15. That grew upon my lips; then laid his leg
  16. Over my thigh, and sigh’d, and kiss’d, and then
  17. Cried, “Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!”

Othello

471
  1. O monstrous! Monstrous!

Iago

472
  1.                         Nay, this was but his dream.

Othello

473
  1. But this denoted a foregone conclusion.

Iago

474 - 476
  1. ’Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream,
  2. And this may help to thicken other proofs
  3. That do demonstrate thinly.

Othello

477
  1.                             I’ll tear her all to pieces.

Iago

478 - 481
  1. Nay, yet be wise; yet we see nothing done;
  2. She may be honest yet. Tell me but this,
  3. Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief
  4. Spotted with strawberries in your wive’s hand?

Hah? I like not that.

John Rogers, 1882

Othello

482
  1. I gave her such a one; ’twas my first gift.

Iago

483 - 485
  1. I know not that; but such a handkerchief
  2. (I am sure it was your wive’s) did I today
  3. See Cassio wipe his beard with.

Othello

486
  1.                                 If it be that—

Iago

487 - 488
  1. If it be that, or any that was hers,
  2. It speaks against her with the other proofs.

Othello

489 - 497
  1. O that the slave had forty thousand lives!
  2. One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.
  3. Now do I see ’tis true. Look here, Iago,
  4. All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven.
  5. ’Tis gone.
  6. Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell!
  7. Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne
  8. To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,
  9. For ’tis of aspics’ tongues!

Iago

498
  1.                              Yet be content.

Othello

499
  1. O blood, blood, blood!

Iago

500
  1. Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may change.

Othello

501 - 511
  1. Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic Sea,
  2. Whose icy current and compulsive course
  3. Nev’r feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
  4. To the Propontic and the Hellespont,
  5. Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,
  6. Shall nev’r look back, nev’r ebb to humble love,
  7. Till that a capable and wide revenge
  8. Swallow them up.
  9. He kneels.
  10. Now by yond marble heaven,
  11. In the due reverence of a sacred vow
  12. I here engage my words.

Iago

512 - 519
  1.                         Do not rise yet.
  2. Iago kneels.
  3. Witness, you ever-burning lights above,
  4. You elements that clip us round about,
  5. Witness that here Iago doth give up
  6. The execution of his wit, hands, heart,
  7. To wrong’d Othello’s service! Let him command,
  8. And to obey shall be in me remorse,
  9. What bloody business ever.
  1. They rise.

Othello

520 - 524
  1.                            I greet thy love,
  2. Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,
  3. And will upon the instant put thee to’t:
  4. Within these three days let me hear thee say
  5. That Cassio’s not alive.

Iago

525 - 526
  1. My friend is dead; ’tis done at your request.
  2. But let her live.

Othello

527 - 530
  1. Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her, damn her!
  2. Come go with me apart, I will withdraw
  3. To furnish me with some swift means of death
  4. For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.

Iago

531
  1. I am your own forever.
  1. Exeunt.

Madam, I’ll take my leave.

Robert Dudley, William MacKenzie, 19th century

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